About Us

If you want to be a successful player in a foreign market, you need to understand the market and the numerous issues that you may face. The German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK Australia), with offices in Sydney and Melbourne, has over 40 years of experience and a competent team of experts and partners who can deal with all facets of the Australian market. We cooperate with potential partners and develop your market-entry strategies in order to establish your market position. You will benefit from our expertise. AHKs fulfil three main tasks at their locations:

Official Representation of German Companies

AHKs are the key players of German foreign business development on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany. They represent German business interests in their countries and they inform about and promote Germany as a business location.

Member Organisations

AHKs are member organisations for companies that are actively involved in bilateral business relations. These members give them the authority needed when interacting with politics, business and administration in terms of promoting the bilateral business relations.

Service Providers to Companies

Under the brand DEinternational, AHKs provide services to companies both from Germany and their host countries in order to support their foreign business activities.

AHKs are closely connected to the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHKs) in Germany. Together, they support German Companies with building up and extending their business relations to foreign countries. The umbrella organisation of the IHKs is the German Association of Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), which also coordinates and supports the AHKs. Furthermore, the cooperation with various German trade associations strengthens the link from AHKs to business and markets. The AHKs are partially supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy on the basis of a decision of the German Bundestag.

The History of the Chamber

1970s

Feb. 1976

First preparation for the foundation by opening a contact agency of the German Association of Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHT) in Sydney

27/01/1977

The German Chamber of Industry and Commerce is founded in Sydney at 388 George Street, with seven permanent staff and Executive Director Dr. Lando Lotter.

15/06/1977

First newsletter edition of German Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Australia

19/07/1977

First general meeting of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce in the Wentworth Hotel, with Sydney election of R. Gordon Jackson as the chamber's first president

20/07/1977

Official opening of the chamber by the German Minister of Trade and Economics Dr. Hans Friderichs and the President of the DIHT Otto Wolff von Amerongen

01/11/1978

The chamber opens its Melbourne office at Hoechst House, St. Kilda Road with Gert Adomeit as the Director.

1980s

Dec. 1981

The chamber reaches more than 500 members.

08/07/1982

The name is changed to the German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce to emphasise its bilateral character.

01/07/1983

Relocation of office to 47 York Street, Sydney

14/11/1989

Relocation of office to 464 Kent Street, Sydney

1990s

25 – 28/02/1990

The chamber hosts the 3rd German Asia-Pacific Conference in Sydney.

April 1991

Heinrich E. Zimmermann is appointed new Executive Director.

Sept. 1992

The first issue of the German-Australian Business Journal is published.

01/09/1993

Knut Feddersen becomes Director of the Melbourne office.

31/03/1993

Business luncheon in Sydney with guest speaker Dr. Klaus Finkel, German Minister for Foreign Affairs

06/05/1994

Former President Hugh Morgan AO is made an Honorary Member; John T. Ralph AO is elected new President of the Chamber.

01/07/1996

The German National Tourist Office becomes part of the chamber.

Sept. 1996

The German ambassador in Australia, Dr. Klaus Zeller, agrees to be Patron of the Chamber.

5 & 07/02/1997

20th Anniversary celebrations in presence of the German Minister of Economics, Dr. Günter Rexrodt in Melbourne and Sydney

08/02/1999

Relocation of Melbourne office to 14 Queens Road

2000s

13/09/2000

The Chamber hosts the Olympic Reception on the MS Deutschland, Official Guest Ship of the National Olympic Committee for Germany.

14/09/2000

German-Australian Business Dialogue in Sydney with guest speakers such as Dr. Heinrich von Pierer, CEO of Siemens, Mark Vaile, Australian Minister for Trade and Prof. Dr. Eckart Rohkamm, Chairman of the Executive Board of Thyssen Industries AG

05/05/2001

Germany's President, Johannes Rau, speaks before the chamber in Sydney on his visit to Australia.

01/08/2001

Klaus Volker Schuurman is appointed new Executive Director.

05/11/2001

Relocation of office to 39-41 York Street, Sydney

26/02/2002

25th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Ball in Sydney, in presence of German State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, Dr Axel Gerlach and The Hon. Mark Vaile, Minister for Trade

23/05/2002

Chamber AGM and 25th Anniversary Dinner in Melbourne, in presence of The Hon. John Brumby MP, Treasurer and Minister for State and Regional Development and Innovation, State of Victoria

27/08/2002

Luncheon to introduce the newly appointed German Ambassador to Australia H.E. Dr. Klaus-Peter Klaiber

13/07/2005

Luncheon with the Australian German Association in honour of Prof. Dr. Eckhard Rohkamm, Chairman of the German-Asia Pacific Business Association (OAV)

06 - 08/09/2005

German-Australian Business Conference – Perspectives of regional Cooperation with the Handelskammer Hamburg, the Australian German Association and the German-Asia Pacific Business Association (OAV)

14/03/2006

Cocktail Reception with Australian Business in Europe (NSW) to introduce Mr Bruno Julien, the new Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Commission to Australia and New Zealand

21/03/2006

Luncheon with the Australian German Association in honour of Dr. Herwig Schlögl, Deputy Secretary-General, OECD

01/04/2007

Tina Thoms takes over from Knut Feddersen as Manager of the Melbourne Office.

01/07/2007

Markus Gilbert becomes the new Executive Director.

06/05/2008

30 Year Jubilee Dinner at the Grand Hotel Windsor, Melbourne, in presence of the Hon. Theo Theophanous, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Information and Communication Technology and Minister of Major Projects in the State of Victoria.

19/05/2008

Melbourne office moves to new premises in 443 Little Collins Street.

21/10/2008

Gala Dinner 'Golden Past – Sustainable Future' at the Westin, Sydney.

22/10/2008

Australia-Germany Business Conference 'Prosperity and Energy: Towards a Sustainable Future' in Sydney with the Australian German Association and the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business.

24/11/2008

Solar and Bio Energy Industry Conference opened by the Hon. Carmel Tebbutt, Deputy Premier of NSW, Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Minister for Commerce, announcing a feed-in-tariff for NSW.

16/07/2009

The Hon. Simon Crean, Federal Minister for Trade addresses German and Australian senior business representatives during a lunch hosted by Lindsay Fox, AC, President of the AHK.

22/07/2009

Business Luncheon with The Hon. Martin Pakula, Minister for Industry and Trade, Melbourne